KEY POINTS:
Shaun Tait has a huge Ashes carrot dangling in front of him and can push to play for Australia in the first cricket Test if he can again torment England's batsmen this weekend.
The battle among Australia's emerging fast bowlers proved too close a call for national selectors, who yesterday a 13-man squad for the first test in Brisbane, including Tait, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark.
The selectors will assess conditions at the Gabba before deciding on who to go with come next Thursday.
Naming Tait gives the South Australian a big incentive to bowl well against England in the three-day match in Adelaide, starting today, and sends a look-out message to England.
Tait took three for 21 in a withering display against England, for the Prime Minister's 11, last Friday.
Tait said he felt he was fitter and bowling better this season, having played the last two tests during the 2005 series.
"I have been able to pull up better and bowl faster for longer," he said.
"My aim is to bowl fast and bowl fast all day."
Australia's squad contained no surprises, as Justin Langer was retained as opener despite the challenge of Phil Jaques, and Shane Watson was named allrounder.
Chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch noted Tait's opportunity this weekend would be "interesting", and admitted the three pace contenders had done everything they could.
He said Clark's efforts in South Africa had been impressive, Johnson had been outstanding over the past year and, in a concession that Tait had charged into contention late, said the speedster's recent bowling had been "eye-catching".
Clark returned 20 wickets at 15.85 in his debut test series in South Africa in March-April, but thought he had done his dash when he injured his thigh six weeks ago, only to return strongly.
Johnson impressed during the Champions Trophy in India and would add variety with his left-arm swing to an attack comprising Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Warne.
Australia will take at at least nine players aged 30 or over into the first test (10 if Clark) plays, but the selectors were excited by the emergence of Watson and Johnson, both 25, and Tait, 23.
"We've injected what we think is some very good fast bowling talent into our group," Hilditch said.
"The players, as a general rule, are ready for this challenge."
Australian squad: Ricky Ponting (captain), Justin Langer, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Mike Hussey, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Watson, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath.
- AAP
